Devil on the Rooftop [Book 1]

Chapter 103 - Arisa -

There was still no answer from my ex-boyfriend. I contemplated not prying into Loyal's past on my way to school but it was hard to fight the voices in my head. It was hard to trust him after last night. I knew there were things I decided to turn away from, his side business being one, but it looked like there were other concerns that needed my attention.

I made it to my locker before the first warning bell rang, and to my surprise, a folded paper plane dropped out of it. I stared at the thing, afraid to pick it up. The last time I went near a paper plane, my life took a drastic turn. Exchanging my homework binder for my English and Geography textbooks, I contemplated leaving it there for someone else to find.

"You're going to go to class and not be able to focus on anything else," I complained to myself. "So, don't act like you're above this."

I glared at the paper before bending down to pick it up. I caught an 'A' written on one of the wings. As I pulled back the pieces making up the plane, I realized I was looking at another letter, not from a prestigious school, but from my boyfriend. I wasn't obligated to read the thing—was I? I cursed my curiosity and dived right in.

So,

You were right. I do preach honesty and withhold information. I somehow convinced myself that it was different from lying but it's not. I can't expect you to be real with me when I can't do the same. I've done a lot of terrible things before meeting you—I've continued to do terrible things after meeting you. I want you to know the only reason I held back last night (and I did) I held back a lot—was because I didn't want to lose you. After reading this you might decide to break up with me, but I'm taking a risk. And I know I have to take it because you're not the type to sit still and let things be.

I'm not sure if you were dating your ex at this point, but it was right before I transferred to the academy. My sister introduced me to him and at first, I didn't mind the guy. We got along fairly well with one another. I told him about my gifts and skills, how I was having problems at home, and how I wished I could run away and be my own person. He said it sounded like I needed a divorce from my parents. It was a joke. I'm sure he didn't take his thoughts as seriously as I did. I asked him hypothetical questions about how I could afford to do such a thing when I couldn't access my trust fund. He made a comment about utilizing all my skills and assets.

A little after that, I found out your ex was crushing on my sister. I took that as an opportunity to drop him (he knew too much about me and what I was planning to do), so I paid him to stop hanging around us. When he refused, I blackmailed him. I won't bother you with the details of that but it wasn't pretty. When I transferred to the academy's middle school branch, I heard mouthbreathers spreading rumours about an employee at the high school branch, who had a thing for teenage boys. I manipulated the situation so she would get caught fooling around with one—I caught it on camera as proof. When I became a freshman, I enticed her using one of my friends and she fell for it again. After that, it was easy to get questions for the tests and exams for both the high school and middle school branches.

This is my truth. I know I've done a lot of wrong, I know they don't call me that name for shits and giggles but none of that will matter if you walk away. Of course, it's your decision. Of course, I'll comply with whatever you choose but I wanted you to hear it from me. Not one of the rats at the academy, not the school employee, and definitely not your ex-boyfriend.

I was stone cold. I couldn't even bring myself to handle all the emotions I was feeling. What if I decided to leave the paper plane on the floor? What if someone else found his letter and learned all the horrible things he had done? Honestly, Krish and Paulie were right. I shouldn't have gotten involved with him. Loyal told me one side of the story, his own, and I somehow accepted it. It's not like he tricked me into believing his words—it was more like I was charmed into believing he would never lie. I knew there was something going on behind the scenes. I knew it wouldn't be pretty when I learned all the horrible details, so why did it hurt so much?

Did he even stop to consider the people he toyed with? Did he empathize with their feelings and what he was putting them through? Did any of the rooftop losers consider the severity of their actions? Wade and Tomasia lost their friendship because of Loyal, and that employee's reputation and career were left in the hands of a teenager. It wasn't right. None of it was right.

I crumbled the letter in my hands and took a slow breath. "I'm done with this."